METHOD FOR OPTIMISING THE OPERATION OF AN OPTICAL DISPLAY

Abstract

A method for optimizing the operation of a touch-sensitive optical display involves analyzing the gaze direction of a person using the optical display. At least two display and operating modes are available. A first display and operating mode is activated when the gaze direction of the person is directed in the direction of the optical display. A second display and operating mode is always activated when the gaze direction of the person is not or only partially directed on the optical display.

Claims

1-11. (canceled)

12. A method, comprising: determining a gaze direction of a person using a touch-sensitive optical display in a motor vehicle; activating, based on the determined gaze direction, at least one of a first and second display and operating mode of the touch-sensitive optical display, wherein the first display and operating mode is activated when the gaze direction of the person is directed in a direction of the touch-sensitive optical display and the second display and operating mode is always activated when the gaze direction of the person is not or is only partially directed on the touch-sensitive optical display, wherein the second display and operating mode provides simplified operability of the touch-sensitive optical display compared to the first display and operating mode by enlarging functional regions of the touch-sensitive optical display that are operable by touch, and wherein the second display and operating mode is only activated when the motor vehicle is moving.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least in when the gaze direction of the person is not or is only partially directed at the touch-sensitive optical display, a head position of the person is additionally determined, wherein the second display and operating mode is activated when the determined head position is facing away from the touch-sensitive optical display.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the determination the gaze direction is not or is only partially directed at the touch-sensitive optical display comprises analyzing gaze directions of the person during a predetermined period of time with regard to a temporal duration of the gaze directions, wherein it is determined that the gaze direction is not or is only partially directed on the touch-sensitive optical display when a duration of gaze directions on the touch-sensitive optical display is shorter than a duration of gaze directions not on the touch-sensitive optical display.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the gaze direction of the person is determined using a camera of the motor vehicle.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the head position of the person is determined using a camera.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the second display and operating mode comprises at least one of the following measures compared to the first display and operating mode: increasing brightness or contrast of the touch-sensitive optical display; reducing a number of functional regions on the touch-sensitive display that generate a control signal when touched; increasing a required force to trigger a control signal via the touch-sensitive optical display; generating haptic feedback or enhancing the haptic feedback when one of the functional regions of the touch-sensitive optical display is touched; or creating or enhancing haptic or thermal limits between functional regions that generate a control signal when touched.

18. A method, comprising: determining a gaze direction of a person using a touch-sensitive optical display in a motor vehicle by recording, using an interior camera of the motor vehicle that records a head position of the person; activating, based on the determined gaze direction, at least one of a first and second display and operating mode of the touch-sensitive optical display, wherein the first display and operating mode is activated when the gaze direction of the person is directed in a direction of the touch-sensitive optical display and the second display and operating mode is always activated when the gaze direction of the person is not or is only partially directed on the touch-sensitive optical display, wherein the second display and operating mode provides simplified operability of the touch-sensitive optical display compared to the first display and operating mode by enlarging functional regions of the touch-sensitive optical display that are operable by touch, and wherein the second display and operating mode is only activated when the motor vehicle is moving.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second display and operating mode is activated when the determined gaze direction is completely or substantially in a driving direction of the motor vehicle.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the second display and operating mode is activated when the recorded head position is in a driving direction of the motor vehicle.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the touch-sensitive optical display is a touch-sensitive screen fixedly mounted in the motor vehicle or a touch-sensitive surface of a cladding part or decorative element in an interior chamber of the motor vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURE

[0025] The sole FIGURE shows a part of a vehicle with a person driving the vehicle inside it for explaining the method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In the depiction of the sole FIGURE, a vehicle labelled with 1 can be seen in a cross-section. A person, labelled with 2, who is driving the vehicle 1, is in the vehicle 1. In addition, an optical display 3, for example the screen of a central operating device, is now available to this person 2. Various functions, for example media devices, functions of the vehicle, navigation functions and similar, can be controlled and visualized using this optical display 3. The optical display 3 is here correspondingly controlled via a control device 4. The desired content is correspondingly depicted on the optical display 3 for the person 2, and virtual functional regions are displayed that trigger corresponding control signals on the touch-sensitive surface of the optical display 3, for example by tapping a finger, in order to thus control the functions.

[0027] At least when driving the vehicle 1 in the driving direction F or also in an opposite driving direction when reversing the vehicle 1, it is the case that the person 2 is concentrating completely or for the most part on the traffic situation. Their gaze direction a, b starting from an indicated eye 5 is thus directed in the driving direction F of the vehicle, so forwards. This is indicated by the arrow, labelled with a, corresponding to the gaze direction. In contrast, if the person wants to observe the optical display 3, in particular in order to tap a corresponding functional region for operation, their gaze direction will instead be directed on the optical display 3 corresponding to arrow b. In particular, this is simply possible when the vehicle 1 is at a standstill. However, if the vehicle 1 is moving, the gaze direction a, b will extensively be on the traffic situation, i.e., the gaze direction a will thus be in the driving direction F of the vehicle 1 for a clearly longer amount of time, and if something is to be operated on the optical display 3, only a small amount of time is used for a gaze virtually out of the corner of the eye onto the optical display 3 corresponding to gaze direction b. The person 2 is thus only able to observe the optical display 3 and to operate the functional regions located thereon to a limited extent during the journey. Typically, this can also be recognized by the fact that the head 6 of the person 2 is extensively aligned in the driving direction F of the vehicle 1 and not diagonally downwards and/or diagonally sideways at the optical display 3.

[0028] In order to now correspondingly evaluate the gaze directions a, b of the person 2 and, optionally, the posture of their head 6, an interior camera 7 is used in the vehicle 1. Of course, the use of several cameras, which are arranged distributed across the interior chamber, is also conceivable. If it now emerges from the gaze direction a, b that the gaze is not, or only partially virtually out of the corner of the eye, directed onto the optical display 3 while something is to be operated on this because, for example, a hand, not depicted here, of the person 2 is approaching this optical display 3, then it can be changed from a normal first display and operating mode of the optical display 3 to a second display and operating mode by means of the control device 4. This then virtually allows for a “blind” operation of the optical display device 3. For this, various measures can be implemented individually or in combination with one another. For example, an additional device 8, which could also be integrated in the optical display 3, can be correspondingly controlled for generating haptic feedback via the control device 3, in order to give haptic feedback when operating the optical display 3 or to enhance this in relation to the normal mode of the operation. Other possibilities for improving and simplifying the operability of the optical display 3 without gazing at it or only with the occasional glance out of the corner of the eye at the optical display 3 are also possible. The aspects used for this can comprise, individually or in combination with one another, for example, the brightness, an enlargement of the switching surfaces, an enhancement of the contrast and/or a masking of subordinate functional regions or those allocated to passive functions, e.g., switching surfaces. In the second display and operating mode, the force necessary for triggering an input can also be correspondingly increased, such that it is possible to move the finger across the optical display 3 without immediately triggering unwanted inputs. Only with a greater pressing force on the optical display 3 would the input be triggered in this case. Moreover, this can be supported by an adjustment of the haptic feedback in order to make switching surfaces or the borders between the switching surfaces palpable, for example, and to reach transitions between the switching surfaces, for example. The virtual latching of switching buttons can also be simulated by a piece of corresponding haptic feedback. For example, a simulated surface structure could also be implemented so that functional regions can be felt.

[0029] One possibility for implementing this would be, for example, the use of inherently known piezoelectric engines, in order to give a piece of piezoelectric feedback. A piece of thermal feedback could be implemented in order to thus implement different functional regions or the borders between these by means of different temperatures on of the surface of the optical display. All this simplifies the operation when the gaze is turned away or partially turned away. Advantageously, this is supplemented by larger functional regions and stronger contrasts, in order to also ensure a simplified operation from the corner of the eye if the person 2 using the vehicle 1 only glances at the optical display 3 to a certain extent.

[0030] Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail by way of preferred embodiments, the invention is not limited by the examples disclosed, and other variations can be derived from these by the person skilled in the art without leaving the scope of the invention. It is therefore clear that there is a plurality of possible variations. It is also clear that embodiments stated by way of example are only really examples that are not to be seen as limiting the scope, application possibilities or configuration of the invention in any way. In fact, the preceding description and the description of the figures enable the person skilled in the art to implement the exemplary embodiments in concrete manner, wherein, with the knowledge of the disclosed inventive concept, the person skilled in the art is able to undertake various changes, for example, with regard to the functioning or arrangement of individual elements stated in an exemplary embodiment without leaving the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims and their legal equivalents, such as further explanations in the description.